Javadi has edge in state House Republican primary on North Coast

May 18—Cyrus Javadi, a Tillamook dentist, led Glenn Gaither, a retired corrections officer in Seaside, in the Republican primary on Tuesday night for state House District 32.

Javadi was up 59% to 40% for the GOP nomination in the North Coast open seat that extends from Clatskanie down through Tillamook County.

Logan Laity, a community organizer and small-business owner in Tillamook, was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Following Betsy Johnson's decision to run for governor as an independent, state Rep. Suzanne Weber chose not to run for reelection in House District 32 so she could campaign for Johnson's old seat in state Senate District 16.

Weber, a Tillamook Republican elected in 2020, and Melissa Busch, a home health nurse from Warren and a Democrat, were unopposed in the primaries for Senate.

While sharing the same party affiliation, Javadi and Gaither had different focuses during their campaigns.

Javadi has cited his experience as a small-business owner in looking to fill the needs of the North Coast's business community and workforce amid the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

Javadi has also pointed to land use laws as outdated and an obstacle for affordable housing.

"It's encouraging ... it's looking really good and I feel like it's a good indication of things to come for the night," Javadi said of the election returns.

While Javadi describes himself as a moderate Republican and is concerned about the hyperpartisan political climate in Oregon and across the United States, Gaither has said he does not support "middle of the road" politicians like Javadi, Weber and Johnson.

With an emphasis on social and cultural issues, Gaither, who considers himself a "Constitutionalist," said he was initially motivated to run by what he saw happening in Oregon school districts, specifically around topics such as sexuality and race.

Gaither, a graduate of Knappa High School, has worked with the Knappa Parents Organization, a group with culturally conservative views that pushed back on the school district's curriculum and pandemic response.

Gaither ran unsuccessfully as an independent for the Washington House of Representatives in 2012.

After the early election returns, Gaither pointed to Javadi's fundraising advantage. Javadi raised more than $29,000 to Gaither's $825, according to state campaign finance records.

"It's not always money," he said. "If I do win, that would make the victory that much better. It sends a message to the grassroots people — it doesn't take hundreds of thousands to do this."

Both Republicans were critical of what they see as government overreach and how they believe Salem can fail to take local needs into account.

The candidates also aligned on the need to tackle drug addiction, pointing to the shortcomings of Measure 110, which decriminalized the possession of small amounts of drugs and sought to channel money to addiction treatment.

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to weigh in again soon on Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. Javadi and Gaither have indicated that they are "pro-life."